We have them well trained,
Pewter giggled.
Every now and then on the road, Harry had called Fair on her cell. Not one for talking much while driving, she needed to do it to keep awake. Shed told him about Mariahs disappearance, Aunt Tallys speech, and meeting Aileen Tinsdale.
Doesnt bode well, was her terse comment now. When Inez got to Tallys, she called me. Isnt she amazingAunt Tally, too? They get around; their minds are sharp.
I guess if you dont use it you lose it. Applies to other parts, as well. He smiled. Oh, Terri Kincaid called. At least shes not charging you for a pot someone else broke. I wouldnt put it past her. Shed heard about the lady who disappearedher word. Bad news travels fast.
He just figure that out?
Pewter taunted.
Keep eating,
Tucker said.
You dont need to encourage her.
Mrs. Murphy lifted her head from the bowl.
Im glad were home. We were lucky there was a blizzard.
Why?
Pewter asked.
Because the blizzard pinned down the killer,
the tiger replied.
You dont know that the killer was on campus,
Pewter replied.
No, I dont. Time will tell.
Mrs. Murphy bit the kibble piece in the shape of a fish in half.
Tired though she was from the travel and commotion, Inez checked her notebook, in which she kept an abbreviated record of proceedings.
The full minutes from the last two years worth of meetings were at home. She pored over the various chapters financial reports, which she always stapled to the back of her notebook. Nothing in those documents hinted at wrongdoing. After four hours of review, she still wasnt satisfied.
Flo. Inezs voice was strong over the phone line, as she called from Aunt Tallys. Did you make it home all right?
Did. My sweet son dug out the walkway. Otherwise I would have needed snowshoes to get to the door. You know, I think this was one of the worst blizzards Ive ever seen. I hope it didnt spoil Tallys big day too much.
No. Gives her one more thing to talk about. Inez laughed. Flo, Im calling you because I checked my notes from the last two years. I also went over all the financial reports. Everything looks okay, but we both know how easy it is to make something appear strong on paper.
Funny, I did the same thing. In a situation like this, when a treasurer misses a meeting and cant be found, my first thought is that he or she has absconded with the funds. I assume you checked our account once phones and computers were up.
Did. Fine. You know, Flo, people who steal, if theyre very smart, plan far ahead. When the time is right, they clean everything out and disappear. If I were doing such a thing, Id go to Uruguay.
Good Lord, why?
Well, its beautiful in many places, has some sophistication, and the local authorities arent looking to arrest you for something youve committed in another country. Plus, contributions, so to speak, go a long way. Id feel quite safe there.
I cant imagine Mariah in Uruguay.
Neither can I. But I cant find the hole, know what I mean? And I really dont think Mariah is a thief.
I do. I just hope this has nothing to do with the board.
Flo was and wasnt right.
S
itting in her luxurious office near the St. Louis Ritz-Carlton, Flo looked outside at the snow piled high along the street sides. One needed a pole vault to get over it, but then, not that many people walked in this part of town. Slushing along in an expensive vehicle was the transportation of choice. People did walk in this gracious city, though, especially through huge Forest Park or down at the reclaimed, tidied-up area by the muddy Mississippi itself. Shed lived long enough to see St. Louis, a city she loved, shed old clothes and try on new ones. Thats how she thought of renewal projects. After William Woods, shed done two years of graduate work at Washington University. Mariah attended the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia after graduating from William Woodsa fact Mariah swiftly inflicted on anyone shed just met. As far as Flo was concernedand Dick, tooWashington University was one of the greatest universities in the United States. Then again, how could Charlottesville, Virginia, home to UVA, hold a candle to St. Louis? For one thing, St. Louis had the Cardinals.
Beat that, Flo thought to herself, reviewing what she thought of Mariahs postgraduate work.
Flo could have warned Gayle of her findings, but the malicious delight in telling Jahnae Barnett first overcame her loyalty to a woman she truly admired. Not that she wanted to distress Jahnae, who had
transformed William Woods and continued to do so, turning a small, lovely, all-womens college into a small coed university powerhouse. Recently, two graduates had signed Major League Baseball contracts. Nick Wooley went to the Kansas City Royals, and Josh Goodin joined the Baltimore Orioles. Flo just gloated over that, as did alumnae who didnt give a jot for baseball.
She twirled a pencil around her fingers, then punched in the numbers.
Kenda, Flo said as she heard the familiar voice, let me talk to the chief. I know why Mariah has vanished.
Shes in her office, but let me check if anyone is in there.
Fine. Flo hummed to herself as she was on hold.
A click, then Kendas voice said, Put you right through.
Hello, Flo. How are you? Jahnae braced herself for what she suspected would be another blast against Mariah DAngelo.
I know why Mariah hotfooted it.
Yes. Not a hint of nervousness.
Ive long wondered how my classmate could offer such spectacular deals through Fletcher, Maitland, and DAngelo. For the last year I have investigated, at my own expense, the watches, diamonds, and pearls she carries. Well, the pearlsMikimotosand the diamonds are genuine. The discounts on diamonds and pearls are much less than those on watchesBaume and Mercier, Piaget, Rolex, and Jaeger-LeCoultre, to name a few. Naturally, I know many people, including many of our alumnae, who have patronized Mariahs store. I hired a jeweler with impeccable credentialsone from Charlottesville, actually, Keller and George, as I knew that store was the one that inspired Big Mouth to go into jewelry. I was able to gather a group of alumnae here in St. Louis and ones in Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati. Youll notice I didnt reach out to anyone in Kansas City. Too close to home. Someone might tip her off.
Jahnae interjected, You told these people that their watches might be fakes to get them to meet with you?
No. Not exactly. I said there was a growing market for reconditioned secondhand watches and asked if they would want an appraisal.
A bit of a cheat, but they were getting the appraisal free. I paid for it. They didnt.
And? Jahnae didnt like what she was hearing, but she was also unhappily amazed that Flo would go to such lengths.
Most were not genuine. A few were. A deeply satisfied silence followed this. But I also paid the appraiser to lie about the value. I wanted to accuse her face-to-face. Petty, I know, but quite thrilling to see her turn puce!
I see.
I have all the documentation.
When did you confront Mariah?
I accused her to her face after our second board meeting. She hotly denied it, of course. Mariah knows, as I said, that the high-end watch brands jealously guard their reputations, not just for stellar work but for authenticity. The companies know there are fakes out there. Theyre right to be vigilant. They would sue her ass into next week, excuse the French, and so would the customers she bilked.